South Korea – Author Carlo Carrasco

Vietnam Attracts Almost 16 Million Foreign Tourists in First 8 Months of 2026

September 10, 2026September 4, 2026carlocarrasco

The tourism boom in Vietnam continued strongly as the nation successfully attracted almost sixteen million foreign tourists during the first eight months of 2026, according to a news report by VnExpress.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of VnExpress. Some parts in boldface…

Vietnam welcomed nearly 2 million international visitors in August, up 19.7% from July and 18.4% year-on-year, according to the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism.

In the first eight months of this year, the country received nearly 16 million foreign visitors, an increase of 14.4% from the same period in 2025 and equivalent to 63.6% of the full-year target.

The August figure is notable as the month is usually considered part of the low season for international tourism.

The result shows that the country’s tourism market continued to maintain and expand its appeal. Air travel remained the main mode of entry, accounting for 83% of international arrivals, while arrivals by road continued to increase, particularly from neighboring countries.

By region, Asia was still Vietnam’s largest source market, with about 11.8 million visitors in the eight-month period, making up nearly 74% of the total and increasing 7.4% year-on-year.

Europe recorded the strongest growth among major regions, at 53.4%, with about 2.68 million visitors.

Arrivals from the Americas reached around 887,000, up 20.7%, while those from Oceania rose 23.3% to nearly 489,000. Africa sent about 45,000 visitors to Vietnam, up 25.1%.

The tourism authority said the figures show that Vietnam is expanding its reach beyond nearby Asian markets, with strong growth from long-haul markets, helping diversify the visitor base and reduce dependence on individual markets.

By country, China remained Vietnam’s largest source market, with 3.54 million visitors, accounting for about 22.3% of the total. South Korea ranked second with approximately 2.76 million visitors, or 17.3%. Together, the two markets provided more than 6.3 million visitors, nearly 40% of the country’s total.

Russia ranked third with more than 1 million visitors, representing a year-on-year increase of about 165.7%, the highest growth among major source markets.

Other key markets also posted strong growth. Visitors from the U.S. increased 20.4%, Cambodia 41.5%, Japan 9.2%, the Philippines 58.8% and Australia 23.3%.

European markets continued to perform well, with arrivals from the U.K. rising 9.8%, France 13.4%, Germany 15.1%, Sweden 25.1%, Switzerland 27%, Poland 51.2% and the Czech Republic 28.2%. In Southeast Asia, tourists from Malaysia grew 20.5%, Singapore 31.7%, and Indonesia 26.7%.

India was another fast-growing market. The number of Indian visitors rose from just 102,000 in 2019 to more than 612,000 in the first eight months of 2026.

The expansion of direct air services between major Indian cities and Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang has helped make Vietnam more accessible to Indian travelers.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think Vietnam can attract at least 25 million foreign tourists by the end of this year? If you plan to visit Vietnam soon, what are your three main reasons for visiting?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Japan Dominates 2026 NTT Asia Triathlon Para Championships in Subic Bay

September 7, 2026September 6, 2026carlocarrasco

JAPAN won six of nine gold medals at stake in the 2026 NTT Asia Triathlon Para Championships in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone yesterday.

The event was converted to duathlon (2.5km run-20km bike-5km run) after prolonged heavy rains made the water conditions in Subic Bay unsafe for athletes.

Keiichi Sato clocked 1:01:08 to prevail over compatriot Takumi Ando (1:03:56) and Uzbekistan’s Bakhtiyor Murtazayev (1:05:01) in the men’s PTS5 (mild impairment) category race that started and ended at Waterfront Road.

“My weak point is swimming. I like running and biking so this is advantage for me,” said the 47-year-old Sato, who hails from Nagoya which will host the 20th Asian Games.

“I plan to join more tournaments to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics, that is my goal,” added Sato, who placed 11th at the 2016 Rio Paralympics.

Group shot of all the medalists of the 2026 NTT Asia Triathlon Para Championships in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone. Japan won six of the 9 gold medals. (Photo source – Triathlon Philippines, photo credit – Pet Salvador)

Meanwhile, Filipino Alex Silverio delivered a bronze medal in the men’s PTS4 (moderate impairments). He clocked 1:08:36 behind Japan’s Hideki Uda (1:01:21) and Keiya Kaneko (1:06:41).

The other Japanese gold medalists in the tournament organized by Triathlon Philippines in cooperation with Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) were Yukako Hata (women’s PTS2), Masaki Fujita (men’s PTS3), Hideki Uda (men’s PTS4), Ryota Kashiki (men’s PT Visually Impaired) and Shiori Funamizu (women’s PT Wheelchair).

Uzbekistan’s Rustamjan Satiboldiyev (men’s PTS2) and Shokhsanam Sobirjonova (women’s PTS5) and Kyrgysztan’s Guinaz Zhuzbaeva (women’s PT Visually Impaired) also topped their respective categories in the competition sponsored by NTT, Philippine Sports Commission, Pinay in Action, Gatorade, Terrace Hotel, Western Guaranty Corp., Raceya, ENGINE 8 and CM Timing of Jay Cheng.

For more triathlon and multisport updates, visit https://www.facebook.com/TriPhil.

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Note: This is an official press release issued by Triathlon Philippines.

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Thailand’s 2026 Tourism Revenue Reaches $29.8 Billion as of August 22

September 5, 2026September 1, 2026carlocarrasco

Thailand, one of the leaders of tourism in Southeast Asia, saw its 2026 tourism revenue reach almost $30 billion as of August 22 and it has also attracted over twenty million foreign tourists along the way, according to a report by VnExpress.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of VnExpress. Some parts in boldface…

Thailand, Southeast Asia’s second-most visited country after Malaysia, recorded tourism revenue of 984.32 billion baht (US$29.8 billion) between Jan. 1 and Aug. 22, down 2.9% year-on-year, amid a slowdown in tourist arrivals.

The top five sources of tourists contributing to this revenue were China, Malaysia, India, Russia, and South Korea, Nation Thailand reported.

The tourism-dependent country welcomed 20.32 million international visitors during the period, down 2.96% from the same period last year.

Once a tourism powerhouse in Southeast Asia, Thailand has faced a slowdown in foreign arrivals since last year amid growing concerns over kidnapping and visitor safety.

Safety concerns have intensified following the deaths of two Russian tourists and three members of a Thai family in Chon Buri Province earlier this month, Bangkok Post reported.

The recent kidnapping of a Chinese tourist, who managed to escape before being taken across the border into Myanmar, has renewed concerns over the safety of foreign visitors.

The Thai government has cut its forecast for Chinese arrivals in 2026 from 9 million to 7 million.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think Thailand’s tourism can somehow attract more foreign tourists and at least match their 2025 numbers? Do you consider Thailand a very safe place for foreigners? If you have visited Thailand before, did you get good value in return on your spending there?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Philippines 2026 Foreign Tourist Arrivals Reach 4.11 Million as of August, U.S. and South Korea Remain Top Markets

September 3, 2026September 2, 2026carlocarrasco

With the Peso performing terribly in the global currency market, weakening economic growth, high inflation and fears of an economic recession growing, 2026 has not been good for the Philippines. There is a bright spot in tourism, however, as the Philippines saw its 2026 foreign tourist arrivals reach 4.11 million in the January-August period and the United States and South Korea combined for more than 1.5 million tourist arrivals, according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of BusinessWorld. Some parts in boldface…

The Philippines has recorded 4.11 million foreign arrivals from January to August, higher by 3.7 percent compared to the same period last year, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said on Tuesday.

The United States posted the highest number of share at 818,318, followed by South Korea at 727,379, Japan at 350,191, China at 310,088, and Australia at 234,156.

Also making it in the top 10 source markets are Canada with 231,972, Taiwan with 154,957, the United Kingdom with 132,370, Singapore with 126,812, and India with 77,883.

Tourism Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay said the Philippines targets to surpass its 2025 arrival figures to reach between 6.4 million and 6.8 million, or at least 7 million, by the end of 2026.

To achieve this, she said the DOT is intensifying its branding and promotions to reach more tourists in its key source markets.

The DOT is also in active talks with airlines to open up and establish more chartered flights between the Philippines and secondary cities of Korea and China.

DOT Assistant Secretary Ren Sapitan said the agency is also set to sign a contract with a creative agency in November to broaden the country’s marketing efforts and make the Philippines more visible worldwide.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the Philippines will be able to exceed the 2025 foreign tourist arrivals number by the end of this year? Do you think the DOT is doing a good job to strengthen the Philippines’ attraction of foreign tourists? Considering the Top 10 markets of foreign tourists the Philippines attracted so far, are you convinced that the nation’s hosting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit did not create any positive tourism results?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Tourism Industry of Vietnam Shifts Focus From Visitor Numbers to Spending

August 29, 2026August 24, 2026carlocarrasco

As it enjoys the many benefits of the ongoing tourism boom, Vietnam now has the opportunity to truly build itself up economically by means of long-term investments and creating new jobs. That said, the tourism industry of the nation has shifted focus from attracting visitors to higher spending, longer stays and other economic opportunities, according to a news report by VnExpress.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of VnExpress. Some parts in boldface…

Vietnam is shifting tourism growth from attracting more visitors to generating greater value from each trip, with a focus on higher spending, longer stays, green development, technology application and cultural experiences.

The country aims to welcome 45-50 million international visitors and 160 million domestic tourists by 2030, Do Cam Tho, head of the Planning and Finance Division at the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT) under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said at HORECFEX Vietnam 2026, a major hospitality and tourism forum.

She said 2026-27 would be a pivotal period in shifting tourism development from expansion in scale to deeper value creation.

Vietnam welcomed 21.2 million international visitors and 137 million domestic tourists in 2025, with total tourism revenue estimated at around VND1 quadrillion ($38.1 billion).

In the first seven months of 2026, the country received nearly 13.92 million foreign tourists, up 13.8% year on year, while domestic visitors numbered about 98 million, with tourism revenue of 675 trillion VND.

International visitors currently spend an average of US$1,200-1,400 per trip in Vietnam, while domestic tourists about 2.4-2.6 million VND (US$92-99).

About 70% of foreign visitors come from China, the Republic of Korea, Japan and Taiwan (China), while markets with higher spending power, including the Middle East, Northern Europe, North America and Australia, still account for relatively small shares.

Tourism is receiving greater attention as Vietnam seeks to achieve rapid national development and make tourism a spearhead economic sector, Tho was quoted by Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper as saying.

Under the proposed approach, Vietnam targets total tourism revenue of $80-90 billion by 2030. The country is expected to have about 1.5 million accommodation rooms and tourism is projected to create around 5.8 million direct and indirect jobs.

Among three development scenarios for 2030, the most ambitious targets annual international visitor growth of 15-18%. Achieving it will require institutional reforms, development of the night-time economy, diversification of high-end markets and measures to increase visitor spending.

VNAT said Vietnam will continue to consolidate Northeast Asian and ASEAN markets while expanding into Europe, North America, Australia and other markets with high spending capacity and longer stays.

India, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, Russia and Muslim markets have been identified as areas with significant growth potential.

For domestic tourism, the focus will shift from boosting visitor numbers to encouraging higher spending, with an emphasis on two- to three-day weekend getaways, high-end Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) tourism, family vacations and night-time tourism.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think Vietnam’s tourism industry players are fully prepared to make the most of the economic benefits that come with surging foreign and domestic tourism? Do you think new investments related with the tourism boom will be made soon in Vietnam? How many millions of new jobs do you think will be created in Vietnam as a result of the tourism boom?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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South Korean Man Who Overstayed in Japan for Decades Apprehended

August 29, 2026August 28, 2026carlocarrasco

As Japan is in the middle of reforming its immigration system and the permanent residency requirements for foreigners, a 72-year-old man from South Korea was arrested by the local authorities for overstaying in the country for a few decades already, according to a VnExpress news report. The suspect admitted he overstayed and supported himself with different jobs locally and how exactly he entered Japan will surprise you.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of VnExpress. Some parts in boldface…

A 72-year-old South Korean man has been arrested in Japan for allegedly overstaying his tourist visa for more than 26 years, police said.

Shizuoka Prefectural Police announced on Aug. 26 that the man had entered Japan illegally and continued to live in Yaizu City, Shizuoka Prefecture.

Police said they received a tip about the man in June and subsequently arrested him.

He originally entered Japan in September 1993 on a 15-day tourist visa, using his brother’s passport because he hoped to find better-paid work in the country, as reported by ANNnewsCH.

The man is believed to have remained in Japan since his arrival 26 years ago.

Because visa overstaying was not a criminal offense in Japan until February 2000, when a revised immigration law took effect, police arrested him on suspicion of overstaying from that point onward, according to the Japan Times.

The suspect has admitted to the allegation, telling investigators that he supported himself by working various day jobs.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think the person who informed the local police about the overstaying foreigner should be rewarded? Does this news make you feel concerned about the potential presence of illegal aliens in your local community? Do you think Japan has what it takes to find all of the overstaying foreigners, apprehend them and eventually deport them? If ever the suspect gets deported, do you think he could adjust to life in his native South Korea?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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BCDA To Ensure Philippines Will Benefit A Lot From Pax Silica

August 24, 2026August 19, 2026carlocarrasco

The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) recently announced that it will ensure the Philippines will benefit a lot from the ambitious Pax Silica project as they negotiate with the United States on the final framework, according to a GMA News report.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the report of GMA News. Some parts in boldface…

The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) on Wednesday said it will ensure that the Philippine side, negotiating with the US on the final framework agreement to hit the ground running for the Pax Silica project in New Clark City, Tarlac, will push for a deal that would be most beneficial for the country.

At the Kapihan sa Manila Hotel, BCDA President and CEO Joshua “Jake” Bingcang said that the government is eyeing to sign the comprehensive framework agreement for the Pax Silica initiative with the US by November.

However, Bingcang admitted that “negotiations can always take longer,” noting that the target signing “is not cast in stone as long as the two [parties] will come up with mutually agreed arrangement.”

Nevertheless, the BCDA chief said the Philippines is pushing for terms that would “most beneficial sa’tin (to us)” as negotiations for the framework deal are ongoing.

“It’s a business contract, normally it is favorable to the host country,” he said.

Bingcang said the government has also made clear that the project will operate under the BCDA’s governing legal framework and applicable investment laws.

“It would be covered by two Philippine laws —the BCDA law and CREATE MORE so the incentives provided will be covered by these two laws,” he said.

“Never in that initial arrangement that we are going to adopt anything other than the two laws,” he added.

Pax Silica is the US Department of State’s flagship initiative on artificial intelligence and supply chain security, aimed at advancing a new economic security framework among allies and trusted partners.

The Philippines in April officially joined the Pax Silica initiative, cementing its place among other 23 global signatories, including the European Union, Japan, India, Singapore, South Korea, and the United Kingdom.

As part of the initiative, Manila and Washington are working to establish a 4,000-acre industrial hub that is envisioned as a new model for AI-focused investment within the Luzon Economic Corridor.

The BCDA chief earlier clarified that the Pax Silica hub is not envisioned as a cluster of hyperscale data centers but as an industrial hub that would include the manufacturing of semiconductors and microchips used in computers, laptops, electric vehicles, and other technologies.

Bingcang said that through Pax Silica, the Philippines and its partners see an opportunity to process raw materials domestically instead of exporting them in unprocessed form.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you feel confident that the BCDA will be able to secure an agreement with the Americans to ensure the Philippines will benefit from Pax Silica economically? Do you realize Pax Silica’s potential to boost manufacturing jobs and the processing of raw of materials in the Philippines?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Vietnam Attracts 416,000 Visitors From The Philippines During First 7 Months Of 2026

August 11, 2026August 5, 2026carlocarrasco

Among the fourteen million foreign tourists Vietnam attracted during the first seven months of 2026 are visitors from the Philippines totaling 416,000, according to report by VnExpress. The authorities have described the Philippines as having the biggest increase among Southeast Asian markets.

The 416,000 of Philippine visitors is significant as there were over 480,000 Filipinos who visited Vietnam in the entire year of 2025. It is recalled that Filipino interest in visiting Vietnam has been strong and the governments of the two nations agreed to cooperate on tourism and air connectivity. As a tourist destination, the Philippines has been very weak attracting only 5.94 foreign tourists in 2025. Vietnam attracted over 21 million foreign tourists that same year.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of VnExpress. Some parts in boldface…

The number of visitors from the Philippines to Vietnam jumped 63.6% year-on-year between January and July to 416,000, the biggest increase among Southeast Asian markets.

In the region, there were huge increases also in the number of arrivals from Cambodia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia. They increased by 40.8%, 31%, 27.3%, and 21.6%, according to the General Statistics Office.

The tourism industry attributed the jump in the number of visitors from Southeast Asia to a rapidly expanding flight network and growing demand for intra-regional travel.

Indonesia AirAsia launched a direct flight connecting Bali (Denpasar) and Da Nang on March 20 while Vietjet launched a direct route connecting Da Nang and Jakarta on April 29.

In March, Philippines AirAsia launched a new direct route linking Da Nang with Manila in the Philippines.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Considering the strong Filipino interest on visiting Vietnam, would you be surprised to see Vietnam attract 1,000,000 visitors from the Philippines by the end of this year? What do you think makes Vietnam a special travel destination for Filipinos?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Japanese Farm And Food Exports Grow 10.9% During First Half Of 2026

August 9, 2026August 4, 2026carlocarrasco

During the first half of 2026, Japan’s exports of food and farm products grew by a huge 10.9% which is a huge economic achievement for the nation and its government, according to a news report by Kyodo News.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the report of Kyodo News. Some parts in boldface…

Japan’s exports of agricultural, forestry and fishery products and food products in the first half of 2026 rose 10.9 percent from a year earlier to 897.7 billion yen ($5.7 billion), a record high for the period, the government said Tuesday.

Shipments to all of Japan’s top 10 destinations, including the United States and Hong Kong, exceeded year-before levels, pushing the overall total to a new January-June peak for the second straight year.

By product, green tea posted a notable gain, supported by a global matcha boom, with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries saying that growing inbound tourism has raised overseas awareness of Japanese food.

Rising health consciousness also contributed, while new sales channels expanded at supermarkets and restaurants abroad that had not previously handled Japanese food. But the pace of export growth slowed from 15.5 percent in the first half of 2025.

Among the top 10 destinations by export value, eight countries and regions, apart from second-ranked Hong Kong and third-ranked China, marked first-half records. Exports to Hong Kong increased 3.0 percent, while those to China grew 4.3 percent.

Exports to South Korea rose 20.5 percent, with yellowtail and beer showing solid gains, while those to Vietnam jumped 35.4 percent on strong demand for scallops and mackerel. The United States ranked first, up 15.3 percent to 162.6 billion yen.

Green tea, beef, apples, and sauces and mixed seasonings registered record highs for the January-June period. Green tea surged 83.5 percent to 48.2 billion yen, while yellowtail surged 69.0 percent to 43.4 billion yen.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Considering the massive number of foreign tourists in Japan, are you convinced that the greater awareness of Japanese food somehow contributed to the huge demand (for Japanese products) in countries around the world? How much food and beverages imported from Japan are being offered in your local groceries or convenience stores right now?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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13.9 Million Foreign Tourists Arrived In Vietnam During First 7 Months Of 2026

August 8, 2026August 4, 2026carlocarrasco

With tourism industry of Vietnam is undeniably growing rapidly as almost fourteen million foreign tourists arrived there during the first seven months of 2026, according to report by VnExpress.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of VnExpress. Some parts in boldface…

Vietnam welcomed 13.9 million international arrivals during the first seven months this year, up 13.8% from a year earlier, as the country’s image as a safe and stable destination continued to attract travelers amid geopolitical tensions worldwide.

In July alone, the number of foreign visitors to Vietnam reached 1.67 million, down 0.7% year-on-year, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO).

Mainland China remained the largest source of visitors so far this year with 3.08 million, followed by South Korea with 2.38 million.

The rest of the top 10 were Russia, Taiwan, the U.S., Cambodia, India, Japan, the Phillippines and Australia.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Considering how many foreign tourists it attracted so far this year, do you think Vietnam will eventually hit 24 million foreign tourist arrivals by the end of 2026? Do you think the new Long Thanh International Airport will somehow help attract a large number of overseas travelers once it starts operating this December?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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